The LuxMob Info Tags

The cost of driving increases every year, and drivers are often
willing to do whatever it takes to keep their costs down. That
means going to traffic school if they commit a traffic
violation. Traffic school saves drivers from having points added
to their driving records, a necessary step to ensuring that
already hefty insurance rates don’t skyrocket.

Fortunately, today’s drivers aren’t forced to go to a
traditional classroom traffic school, although they may
certainly choose this option. More and more people, however, are
turning to online traffic schools, like TicketRelief.com to
complete their traffic course quickly, easily and affordably.
(Most online traffic schools charge anywhere from $17 to $50.)

Of course, as with anything else, there are advantages and
disadvantages to both online and traditional traffic schools.
It’s important to consider each option carefully, choosing the
one that best suits the student.

Traditional Traffic School

Social Interaction. Some critics of online traffic schools will
say that there’s simply nothing like a classroom setting for
traffic school. To some extent, this is true. Students who opt
for traditional traffic school will have the chance to interact
with their fellow students and the class instructor. For some
people, especially those who thrive in social settings, this is
often the ideal way to learn.

The biggest advantage to traditional traffic school may well be
the social interaction, especially if the instructor is good. A
charismatic instructor can excite students and make the day-long
course not only educational but also fun.

Immediacy. If a student has a question, all he has to do is ask
and he’ll have an immediate answer. Information that is unclear
can be discussed and clarified for students immediately, instead
of them having to call an 800 number or having to wait for a
return email.

One session and it’s done. Traditional traffic school requires
students to appear on the day of the class, participate
throughout the day, complete the final exam, and that’s that, if
the student passed the final exam. There’s no room for
procrastination or thoughts of, “Oh well, I’ll just do it
tomorrow.” Further, information will be fresh in the students’
mind when they take the final exam.

Certificate is awarded immediately. Students who opt for walk-in
traffic school will receive their certificate of completion
immediately following the session, an added bonus for those
students who put off taking the course until the last minute.

Of course, there are also disadvantages to attending walk-in
traffic school. No one knows that better than Mike P. Welch who
completed a traditional walk-in traffic course in August 2005.
In addition to having to shuffle his schedule to fit traffic
school in, Welch found that much of the course material was
grossly outdated.

“The instructor had us watch a video that was from the 1970s,
and a big segment was on call boxes, which I felt was
irrelevant, considering the majority of the population now has
cell phones,” he says.

According to Welch, students were also required to reveal their
ticket violations in front of the class. This ultimately led to
some students, like Welch, feeling as though the course was more
of a punishment than an opportunity to learn.

Finally, anyone who remembers high school likely can recall
those one or two annoying students in the back of the class, out
to give the teacher a hard time and cause a distraction. At
first, it might be funny but then it just gets downright
annoying. Unfortunately, those students who attend walk-in
traffic school risk having to deal with such annoyances. “Other
students were a distraction. Half of the students didn’t want to
be there and were distracting to the learning process,” says
Welch.

Welch - like thousands of other drivers before him - has already
decided he’ll opt for online traffic school if he ever receives
another traffic violation.

Online Traffic School

The popularity of online traffic schools and online defensive
driving courses has some questioning the future of the
traditional walk-in traffic school. Of course, there will likely
always remain the traditionalists who will swear by walk-in
traffic school. But, more and more people are discovering the
vast advantages of fulfilling their court requirements by
completing online traffic school.

Saves time. It’s a simple fact that time is a precious commodity
and most people simply don’t have enough of it. Online traffic
school allows students to complete the traffic course at their
own pace. With Ticket Relief, for example, most students
complete their course - including all five quizzes and the final
exam, in between six and eight hours. Some are able to do it in
less time. Students who naturally work quickly can breeze
through the course and exam, rather than having to waste a full
day in a classroom.

It’s easy. There’s no roll of the dice and crossing of fingers,
hoping against hope that the instructor is going to be
interesting and enjoyable. With online traffic schools, such as
Ticket Relief, students know they’re going to receive clear,
detailed instructions and easy-to-understand, comprehensive
course materials. Questions can be answered quickly with a phone
call or an email to a customer service representative.

It’s convenient. Complete traffic school anytime - wearing
pajamas, lounging on the couch or in the middle of the night. It
doesn’t matter. Online traffic school is generally available
24/7, allowing students to complete the course at any time.

It’s worry-free. Schools such as Ticket Relief make taking an
online traffic course a breeze - students need only a computer
and an Internet connection. Registering is simple and safe -
with Ticket Relief’s 128bit encryption, students know their
personal information is secure. Students can access their
accounts at TicketRelief.com, and take the final exam as many
times as is needed to pass - for free.

Of course, as with anything, online traffic school does have its
disadvantages. In some instances, students don’t immediately get
their certificate, but most online traffic schools promise
next-day delivery of the certificate for an additional shipping
fee. However, some counties process the completion certificate
electronically and require students to simply call the court to
confirm the certificate was received. A list, of counties that
electronically process certificates, can be obtained by calling
the court.

Those who opt for online traffic school won’t have the same
advantage of being able to get immediate answers for questions
they have, however online traffic schools like Ticket Relief
generally respond in only a few hours.

However, it was the ease of completing an online traffic course
that led Travis to found TicketRelief.com, which today serves
California (also offering residents of Los Angeles defensive
driving courses.). Ticket Relief also offers a Texas defensive
driving course (in partnership with Continued Ed) and a Florida
defensive driving course (in partnership with American
Institute).

“Traffic school online is a growing trend, and soon, I believe
walk-in traffic school will become obsolete. Taking online
traffic school is quick, easy and convenient,” he says. “Once
you register, you can stop your progress at any point and pick
up where you left off.”

Ticket Relief updates course materials each year, ensuring
students don’t have to contend with grossly outdated material.
Further, they’re dedicated to providing superior service to
their clients and plan to expand operations to eventually
include the whole of the United States.

Ultimately, however, the best way for students to decide which
option is best for them is to consider each option carefully,
talking with traditional traffic schools and checking out online
traffic schools. Some people will simply not choose online
traffic school because they learn best in an interactive
environment such as traditional traffic school. Still others
will swear by the ease and effectiveness of online traffic
school. When it comes down to it, choosing the right traffic
school all depends on the student’s individual personality,
needs and preferences.

People with diabetes 2 have beta cell dysfunction, the cells that make and release insulin, and a decreased beta cell mass due to apoptosis – death of beta cells. This has highlighted the role of incretin hormones GIP and GLP-1 in beta cell function, growth and development.

The incretins are peptide hormones secreted by specific cells located in the small intestine in response to food intake. In the pancreas, incretin hormones act to increase glucose-dependent insulin secretion from beta cells and are essential for maintaining after meal glucose control.

There are observations to be noted in people with diabetes 2 before any diagnosis of an abnormal glucose is made. The disorder begins far sooner than the abnormal glucose indicates.

• The rapid release of insulin is completely absent at the time of diagnosis of diabetes 2.
• Total beta cell function and mass is half normal at time of diagnosis.

The remainder of the natural history of diabetes 2 is now well understood.

• Total beta cells, beta cell mass in people with diabetes 2, decreases linearly for the first 10 years if no intervention occurs.
• L-arginine still produces insulin response during this time.
• Glyburide and other sulfonylureas also produce a normal insulin response.

Apoptosis occurs at an increased rate in this stage of diabetes 2. There are treatments used to treat the high glucose that can decrease the life of the beta cell. These medications include the following.

• Starlix, Prandin and Glyburide
Byetta, fondly referred to as “lizard spit”, seems to reverse all of these negative diabetes 2 processes and treatments quite handily. It is quite similar to GLP-1 having been altered slightly to be able to patent the molecule. There are other unique features that make it quite safe. It acts to,
• Increase first phase insulin response
• Increase late phase and total insulin production.
• It inhibits glucagon release
• It lowers its power as glucose goes to normal thus decreasing the chance of hypoglycemia.

Additionally it increases important regulation of beta cell gene expression for the following.

• Glukinase – aids release of glycogen from liver
• Insulin production
• Glucose transporters – decreasing insulin resistance

Finally, Byetta will increase beta cell mass through replication of beta cell and decreased apoptosis.

It appears that Byetta will reverse the natural decline of the Islands of Langerhans where the beta cells reside and add a few more things that give the reversal a “soft landing” that makes it quite safe. The decrease in apoptosis and increase in beta cell mass mark this product as an exceptional advance in the care of patients with diabetes 2. We now are using Byetta in many people with type 1 with very good preliminary results.

This doesn’t even take into consideration the intangibles such as decreased fatigue, increased muscle strength and diminished abdominal fat patients love perhaps most of all.

It’s your time.

Dr. Joe

J. Joseph Prendergast has been a practicing physician for over 30 years. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine as well as Endocrinology and Metabolism. Dr. Prendergast has published nearly 40 medical articles in well-known publications such as the Journal of the American Medical Association, The New England Journal of Medicine and Diabetes Care. In 1986, Dr. Prendergast formed a single specialty endocrinology practice, Endocrine Metabolic Medical Center and a non-profit research foundation, The Pacific Medical Research Foundation. For more information: http://www.endocrinemetabolic.com & sign up for Dr. Joe’s free newsletter. My story, “Dr. Joe, The Uncommon Doctor” http://www.theuncommondoctor.com tells what this has meant to me so far.